Pneumatic tire.



`zen of the United UNITED STATES DE LEON DAVIS, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINGIS.

PNEUMATICI TIRE.

1,319,697. Specification of Application filed February To all whom it may eminem:

Beit known that LDP: LnoN DAvis, a eiti- States, residing in the city of Chic-ago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have. invented certain lnew :md use'ful 11n An'ovementel in Pneumatic Tires, of which tie following is a specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic tires, and has more particular reference to auch. as are, irovided With auxiliary tread )or-- tions. ts objects are broadly to provite'a tire having pneumatic cushioning properties which will last long in service, is of simple eonntruction and ndepted to effect a saving in inamifactnring cost. Mor; specific objects are to provide n pneunmtic tire in. which a substantially solid tread portion is adapted to take the rough wear of service. while protecting' the more vulnerable por OIIS of the tire troni injury1 such tread pov tion lining replneealile hy n. new one from time to time at. relativel),r small cost. Au important object: is to provide n. pneumatic tire in n'hieh the impact forcee of nervioe upon the treiul element normally toward the center of the wheel are eonnminicated to a large extent direct I v to the principal cushioning' element, nanwly.y the inner tube: and to provide. a tire in which is velativelg wide annular area on the inner tube in adapted to receive the inipaet 't'oreen whereby a relatively Small degree of indentation or flattenv ing o'f the tire upon the ground in nerviee will elente a relativenr great comprension Within the inner tube., thus saving the Side portions or easing of the tire from much of the destruction incident to the repeated flattening or bending to a eonuiderahle eX- tent ot' these parte: in service. Another ohjeet of the vinvention is to provide. a pneuniatie tire having n substantially heavy auxiliary tread portion. and which tire eo1n-- plete only have a thickness, from the rim of the wheel to the. tread periphery of the tire the. saine as that oll the ordinary type of tire For a given Size of rim, thus ndnptingr it t'or Service on wheels now in use with` ont providing additional clearance in the fenders` ete.. or ehai'ngrinp` the speedometer. A still further ohjeet is to provide n pneuinatie tire havin;Y a relutively wide tread portion eoupled with the other features hereinabove pointed ont. Still other objet-ts mid advantages will appear hereinafter.

1n the aeeon'ipanying druwingo, which Patented oet. 28, 1919. Serial No. 5,464..

Letters Patent.

forni a part of this :speciticatioln Figure 1 is a oros# section ot' the preferred forni of my improved tire in association with elcxnents of a wheel;

Fig. i). is a small fragmentary side View ot' the tire oi' Fig. 1 in its normal position for use;

Fig. 3 in a` \iew similar to that. of Fig. l showing* a moditied errungenlent;

Fig. -l is a smul] top plan of clencher elementeI or tread platee similar to those of Figs. 1 and :2 hut heiligr hinged together; and

Fig. 5 Fig. 4. l

Referring to Fig. l the eleneher rim 10, Wheel folly 'it and spo-ke 12 inav he ot' the usual well known muntrnetion. Tn this 'torni of the invention I provide u pair ot' continuons annular fide waits l5, separable and independel'it of each other, having the muni well known cleneher rihfq' or projec tiem; iti at their inner portions: reepeetivelv and An'iuilar elencl'ier rihs l? at their outer portions. The Words inner and outer in thisl specification will he understood as having' reference to directions toward and away from the huh of the wheel on the plane nl' the :fides of the tire walls. 'lhe outer portions4 of the casing or are is a. side. view of the plates of side walls lo spaced apart so that there is a suhst-zintial area luftween the edges Lft of the oppositelv (lioponed tire walls. ln practice I prefer to have thene edge portions: i8 spaced apart suhstantially to the relative extent shown in the illustrations. The outer surfaces of the portionn 1R respeetiveltI are. preferably formed .Qro that there is a snhstantially yQtraigrht line from one to the other at an)l given place, as the line n--fn which lirie` preferalily forum a eeetor of' a eirele iir l@erihahle within the tire and with Hulman tially the, eenter olv` the tire as the renter ol`- suelVeirele. n

The trend element ol' Fig. 1 comprime first u plurality of melallie or other suitahie hard' and substantially unvielding plate- 20. quite similar in outline to4 the platen Q0" of Fig. 4. hut not having' the hinge, or inter loekiml` provisions: there Shown, the plates 20 of Fig. l lying edge to edge around the tire. a id ear-h thereof provided with turned over eueher elements 2l adapted to engage Ihe rihs 17 of the rside walls. The plutesili-O and 20 are provided with tongues or projections. as Q2, 9.2, stamped up from the body ol' the plates rcspta-tively, these projections 'being' adapted to pass through an annular continuous metallic t'abric 2?), Substantially non-expansible in its propcrtics. the ends thereof being rigidly seM cured together to form a true ring. the projections 22. 22 being bent down upon the. fabric 23 sutliciently to hold the Same against retriuftion therefrom. [n constructing the tread element I lirst place a layer of preferably soft rubber 24 upon the plat/es `20 before applying.r the fabric 2.3i. llpon the continuous ring thus 'formed l secure` preterably b v molding),r and vulcanizingr. the tread 25, preferably made ot' rubber contpound` the vulcanizln;r causing the parts 2l and 25 to unite with each other through the intersticcs ot' the mesh t'abric Il and firmly securing the tread :5 to the plates 20. The rubber strip 2l or 2l also provides a cash-- ion and seal between adjacent plates, and the strip 2l provides also a cushion between the plates and theI fabric 28. Before the vulcanizin,g r is done. however. a reinforcing element 2li. which l have shown as a second metallic mesh t'abric, but which may be of other suitable shape or material, annular and with its ends preferably secured to-` gether, may be inserted in the mass to .be

Y vulcanized and completely embodied within the tread The reinforcing element- 26, comprising; one or more wire rings within the tread, cooperates in rendering this tread substantially non-expansihle and strengthens the tread in service. An apron or shield 2T, suitably consistiingr of strong fabric such as canvas. is interposed between the plates 20 and the inner tube 19 to prevent. injury of the imu-r tube due to frictional movement at this place.

In the device of Fig. il I have shown the side walls l5 as being united at their bases mspectively. thus forming` a one-picce. annular, substantially U-shapcd casing. having cleuehcr elements lb adapted tl: be held byr a wcl|ki.ewn type ot' del-inmutable tim 10 which rcquil'es no detailed description. ln this figure I have also shownlthe a ir taba 2s' in eonnuunication with the Yilmer tulle ltl. also of well lknown construction.A 'l`he only substantial difference in this motliti cation over the device ol: hier. l. apart t'rom the unitary nature of the casing l.'. is in the construction ot' the tread element. 'l`he plates 20 (shown also iii/Figs. l and 5), have the projections t?? and EL adapted to :serve as cooperating means For holding the tread 25 thereupon. (ln one end of each of the plates 20 l provide a tongue, as 30, hook-shaped so as to pass through a suitable opening 3l in the contiguous plate, as well shown in Fig. 5. By this arrangement the plates 20 are hingedly interloclted and pronde a strong and substantially noircxpansible rings. It will be noted that the non-expansible fabric of Fig. 1 is now dispensed with, The reinforcing fabric 26 may be employed here as in the device of Fig. 1. ln vulcaniving the tread 25 to the plates 2U l preferably employ the strip of high grade rubber 24 next to the plates. The invention is not limited to the form and characterot the projections Q2, 22. nor to vulcanizinglr t'or securing the tread to the plates. The tread 25 or 25"' may be of any suitable pliable material, and l contemplate using woven fabric with adhesive. substances for this element.

As the plates :20 and 2U are of strong, substantially un fielding material. such as iron of materia thickness, it will be apparent that the open space between the portionsl 18 or 18 respectively is bridged by a tire element adapted to convey the forces of service impact over a relatively wide arca of the inner tube owine, to the width ol the plates from side to side of the tire and their length in the direction of the cir cumt'erence ot' the tire as well as to *their strong and substantially unyielding properties. lt will be appreciated also that an impact force which would cause the ordinary tire of commerce (substantially circular in cross section) to be indented deeply, tendingr to induce fracture of the material, would. in the present form of device cause but relatively slight movement 0f the Side walls. and this for several reasons, among which may bementioned that n. relatively slight movement ot' a plate or plates toward the center of the wheel will cause a. Substantially large compression of the inilating air. The action ot' the plates may be compared to that ot' a large piston ada ted t1) compress the air. It will. be noted a so that the arrangement of the side walls or casing ot' the tire is such that service strains or impacts upon the tread place these side walls under compression in the ,directions of the radii of the wheel, und that the resistance to such'compression must be overcome before bending of the side walls occurs. It will also be noted that when such bending,r does take place it is on eas lines between the clencher elements 10 am 21, or 10l and l, and that service strains or impacts upon the tread are practically incapable ot' producing: au abrupt bending of the side walls, tlms providinf.lr a t'reedoln of the device from the ordinary casualties ofthe road, and contributing,r to long service.

The side walls 15, 15 are relatively short. when compared with the ordinary type of tire casing, which makes for economy in manufacture, and when made in twopieces, as shown in Fie. 1` the construction is simplified. One or both may be replaced from time to time, as is true also of the tread element 25, 25. and thus in case of wear or VReference should injury to one element it is not necessary to throw the entire tire away. These side walls may be of the usual materials employed in tire casings, and be made iufcordingjiq to methods well understood in the art.

I desire also to note the importance of preserving the outer substantially standard diameter of tires, having a `given standard internal diameter, owingr to the fact that some automobiles and the like are so constructed that a tire having a greater out.- side diameter than the standard for a given size of wheel rim would contact the mud guards,l or other projecting parte, and the speedometer would register less mileage than would be warranted by the travel. 2 In my present construction l am able ,to attain the important results hereinabove pointed out while maintainingI the standard diameters.

I also conceive that the present invention provides material advantage in that lines of .sudden impact force applied to the tread at an angle to the plane of the side of the wheel will be changed in their direction toward the center of the wheel by the plates 20 or 20a.

lt will be noted that the clencher elements E21, 21 are substantially beyond the plane of the casing sides, thus protecting the casing to a material extent. The tire as a whole is Asingularly free from mishaps such as puncturcs, rips and blowouts.V

While I have illustrated and described a preferred and modified construction and arrangement, other modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention. therefore be had to the appended claims to determine what I contemplate as fallirnel within the scope of the invention or improvements herein set forth.

I claim: i

1. In a tire having annular side Walls with clencher elements on the outer portions thereof respectively, the combination therewith of a tread element comprising a plurality of plates side by side in annular arrangement and having cleneher elements adapted .to interlock with the elencher elements of said side walls, an annu/lar non- `expansible pliable metallic` fabric secured `to said plates respectively, and a tread of rubber compound or the llke rigidlyy secured to said metallic fabric. v g

2. In a tire having annular side walls with clehcher elements on the outer: portions thereof respectively, the combination thencwith of a tread element comprising a plurality of plates side by side 1n annular arrangement and havingF clencher elements adapted to interlock with the clencher elements of said side walls, an annular nonexpansiblc pliable metallic fabric secured Ato said plates respectively, and a tread of compound or the like rigidly secured there being a second rubber iosaid metallic fabric,

annular wire fabric within the body of said rubber compound and independent of said first mentioned wire fabric.

3. In a tire, the combination'of two annular side walls separable from each other and having clencher elements on the outer and limer portions thereof respectively, a trcadi element ifomprising' a plurality of plates side by side in annular arrangement and having clencher elements adapted to interlock with the outer clencher elements of said sigle walis, an annular non-expansible metallic fabric secured to said plates respectively` an inner a tread of rubber compound or the like rigidly secured to said metallic fabric, and a clencher rim in engagement with said inner cleneher elements respectively', said clencher elements being such that when air is forced into said inner tube said side walls are main- `tained on said rim and said tread element is maintained'on said side walls,

4. In a tire, the combination of side walls having clencher elements at their outer edge portions respectively, side by sid@ and hinged together forming an annular band, some of said plates being provided with clencher elements in engage` :nent with the clencher elements of said side walls respectively, some of said plates having` projections extinding outwardly tl1erefrom` and a resilient tread secured upon said projeetionsVsaid projectionsy being so positioned as to be Wholly within the body of Tsaid tread.

5. In a tire having annular side Walls with clencher elements on the outer portion thereof respectively, the wmbination therewith of a tread element comprisingr a plu-1 rality of plates side by side in annular arrangement and having clencher elements adapted to interlock with the clencher ele- `ments of said Sfide walls, an annular substantially non-expansible and pliable fabric secured substantially against the ruiter faces of Said plates respecti adapted to rest substantially against the irr'er` faces of said platos respectively, an inner tube between said side Walls, and a tread of rubber compound or .the like setured to said outer fabric.

G. In a tire having annular, side `pills with clenchei'- elememtson the outer portions thereof respectively,` the combination therewith of a vtread element comprising a plurality of plates side by side ,and hinged together in annulararranirement` said plates haviimr cleneher elements adapted to intcrlock with the clencher elements of said side walls, an annular substantially nonexpansible and pliable fabric secured to said plates respectively, and a tread of rubber compound or the like rigidly secured to said fabric.

7. A tread for a tire, comprising in conltube between said side walls,

a. plurality of plates" lzination a plurality of plates side by Side in annular arrangement, a flexible substantially non-expaneible annular band secured to said plates on the outer surfaces thereof, a cushioning and sealing strip between. said plates anfl band, the end portions of Said plates being turned inward toward the axis oi' rotation of the tire for engagement with tire side walls, and an annular tread upon said annular band, said tread being less ex tensive than said plates in the directions of t the tire width whereby the end portions of the platee are exposed.

S. A tread for a tire, comprising in combination a plurality of relatively narrow pl ates substantially flat between end portions thereof and positioned side by side in annular arrangement, a flexible non-expansible annular band secured to said plates, the end portions of said plates being turned inward toward the axis of rotation of the tire for engagement with tire side wallsand an annular tread carried by said plates and band.

9.* read for a tire. comprising in coinknnation a plurality of relatively narrow plates side by side in annular arrangement, a flexible non-expansible annular band se cured to said plates, a cushioning' and sealing strip between the plates and Said band, the end portions of said; plates being turned inward toward the axis of rotation of the tire for engagement with tire side walls, and an annular tread Carried, by said plates and band.

DE LEON DAVI S. Witnesses:

MILTON T. MILLER, M. M. KRIESAND. 

